Steve Smith has been appointed as the managing partner of Potter Clarkson, following Colin Baker’s five-year tenure in the role.
Recent years have seen a period of remarkable expansion for the firm, which in the last year alone saw the opening of three new offices, in London (through its acquisition of Wildbore & Gibbons), Stockholm and Copenhagen.
Having joined the firm as a trainee patent attorney in 1998, working his way up to partner in 2007, Steve has played a key role in driving Potter Clarkson’s business expansion in the Nordic region, where the firm has built a significant portfolio of clients. As a specialist in the protection and commercialisation of biotechnology inventions, he is also part of the large team that has established the firm’s position as one of the premier life sciences practices in Europe.
Steve was also instrumental in the firm’s decision in 2016 to set up a team of specialist IP solicitors offering litigation and non-contentious IP services, which is fast establishing a reputation for excellence.
While the firm is marking its 130th anniversary this year, all eyes are firmly focused on the future, as Steve explains:
It is a real privilege to take on the management of the firm at such an exciting time. In recent years, we have delivered against our ambitious growth plans to create a genuinely pan-European, full-service IP practice. This has been a fantastic effort by everyone in the firm and I’m proud to lead the incredible team here at Potter Clarkson as we enter a new chapter in our history."With an established presence across Europe and a network of international IP attorneys, we are well-placed to support our clients with the full range of IP services anywhere in the world."
